Thinking of attempting a late-season escapade to the Mediterranean, but the jarring sight of surging crowds in places like Rome, Santorini, Mallorca, and Dubrovnik keeps putting you off? It’s October, and they should have subsided by now… right? Right?
Sadly, high and low seasons are no longer concepts that can be applied in certain destinations, and most definitely not in sun-drenched Southern Europe, where it’s warm well into late October.
Although you will get merely a small fraction of the summertime chaos, this does not mean it’s exactly peace and quiet that awaits you, unless you head out to one of those emerging destinations very few travelers have caught wind of.
Perhaps it’s time you look further than the touristy spots yourself, and finally give this beautiful Mediterranean island which has never received its due recognition a chance:
Croatia’s Last True Hidden Gem
Vis is a small island in the Adriatic Sea, off the Croatian coast, that’s garnering quite a bit of traction lately since it featured on Intrepid Travel‘s ‘Not Hot’ list.
In other words, it’s been handpicked by some of the industry’s best-reputed travel experts as an up-and-coming destination for the year ahead, as one of only 3 European destinations to make the top 10—and may we add, the only one where the sun is still on full-blast right now.
Located only 30 nautical miles southwest of the bustling port city of Split, Vis is best known for its unspoiled landscapes, which, unlike the Dalmatian mainland, have not been tarnished by mass tourism. The island boasts tranquil beaches and the absence of huge crowds.
It has a population of around 3,000 inhabitants, and none of Split’s crazy nightlife, or trendy beach bars you can’t get into unless you’re dressed to the nines.
If you’re coming to Vis, you’re drawn instead to the ancient culture, the gastronomy, and the local wine, that is meant to be savored slowly, like most things there.
A Fairytale Medieval Capital
Vis’ main settlement, and administrative capital, is Vis Town, a beautiful port town still surrounded by ancient city walls and peppered with family-owned taverns and impressive medieval landmarks.
Levaman Fortress, on the edge of town, is home to the local Archaeological Museum, where you can browse through a collection of items dating as far back as the 4th century B.C. (including a bronze head of the Greek goddess Artemis).
A short walk from the harbor area, where some of the best seafood restaurants are located, you’ll also find a Roman theater built in the 1st century AD. Nearby, a Romanesque St. Jerome’s Church stands, featuring a solemn interior and beautiful stained glasswork.
Vis Town itself is a maze of cobble-paved alleys you could get lost in for hours, and that alone is worth the day trip from Split, but we’d strongly encourage you to prolong your stay here. As we pointed out previously, this is not somewhere you want to rush through.
Beautiful Coves & Mountain Views
Beyond Vis Town, you’ll encounter a plethora of secluded coves, natural vistas, and even a handful of World War II sites that don’t typically feature in your travel brochure, and for that, you’ll need more than a single day trip.
Stiniva Cove, a 20-minute hike from town, is considered one of Croatia’s most beautiful beaches, framed by dramatic limestone cliffs, and with fine pebbles lining what’s perhaps the clearest waters in the entire Adriatic.
Over at Srebrna Bay, a 2-hour walk from Vis Town, along winding coastal roads lined with sky-high cypress trees, and to the sound of singing cicadas, more pebbles and turquoise seas await, though if you’re hoping for golden sands, Stončica Bay is where you should be headed.
A rare example of a largely sandy Croatian beach, it only has rocks and pebbles along the edges and parts of the shoreline, and the small lighthouse nearby makes it a particularly scenic spot for an early-afternoon swim.
Explore A World War II Hideout On A Mountaintop
Bit of a History buff, are ya? You’ll be thrilled to learn that Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito hid in Vis during World War II, in a cave situated atop Mount Hum, the highest point on the island, rising at 587 meters.
The bunker-like hideout can now be visited for free, though it’s a bit of a challenging uphill trek up there, lasting for around 2 hours if Vis Town is your starting point.
Even though it’s not summer, and no longer scorching hot, with temps averaging 71 degrees most days, make sure you bring your water bottle, and apply plenty of sunscreen, as you can never underestimate the blazing Croatian sun.
Discover Charming Komiža
For a gentler activity that won’t involve much physical effort, we recommend you take a local bus to Komiža, a tiny village some 12.4 miles from Vis Town featuring a picturesque harbor, narrow cobblestone streets, and traditional stone houses.
If you’re coming for lunch or dinner, just know Konoba Jastozera serves a killer lobster pasta.
Last but not least, to all our fellow oenophiles, Vis accommodates a number of family-run wineries producing indigenous Dalmatian wines. Sampling tours are offered in Plavac Mali and Vugava, and they cost between $60–$130 per person, depending on duration, group size, and number of estates visited.
How To Get To Vis This Fall
The best part is, unlike most of Croatia, and particularly tourist-packed cities like Split and Dubrovnik, Vis remains largely crowd-free.
In 2024, it welcomed around 28,000 visitors, in stark contrast with the mainland, which often hosts tens of millions of guests.
This makes Vis one of Croatia’s least-visited islands, especially compared to the trendy Hvar, which attracted over 195,000 visitors in the same period.
Vis is accessible by ferry from Split, and the crossing takes approximately 2.5 hours. Tickets start from as low as $15.
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